Powered instrumentation in laryngeal surgery

The endoscopic shaver system employs a motorized handpiece and specially tailored blades that allow access to glottic, subglottic, and tracheal sites. The system and setup is identical to that used in endoscopic sinus surgery except for the blade attachments. This similarity confers a degree of familiarity to the surgeon as well as the operating room staff. The system can be utilized for resection or biopsy of lesions of the upper aero-digestive tract. Endoscopic shaver resection of laryngeal tumors is a safer and more rapid alternative to conventional laser resections. Many of the risks associated with laser resections including inadvertent burn injury and airway fires are avoided. Benign tumors of the larynx, subglottis, and trachea requiring conservative management are especially amenable to this form of therapy. This technique is well suited for resection of papillomas as well as other lesions of the airway. A drawback of this technique is the inadequate assessment of surgical margins that limits its utility in the management of malignancies.